Surgical operation table iliac-crest support



May 18, 1954 s. F. HANS SURGICAL OPERATION TABLE ILIAC-CREST SUPPORT Filed Nov. 17, 1952 I 2 2 mm A Aw///// mw om 0 L fi V x N 1 7/, MI I 2 wfi v m y a O m. O 2 w a 5 6 I! O Q ill" Patented May 18, 1954 SURGICALAOPERATION TABLE ILrAc-cimsr "SUPPORT Stanley Fredcrick' Hans, London, England Application November 17, 1952, "SeridlNoi3201997 This invention relates to surgical operation tableriliac-crest supports, .:As is well known,..it isoften necessary for surgical operation tables to be inclinedwith'the 'patients head at the lower. endof the table (as for example. in the Trendelenburg position). .In orderzto prevent the patient from slipping down the'table there may be used shoulder rests (which have the disadvantage that they sometimes lead tobrachialjpalsy), or thepatients legsmaybe bent over the upper end of the table (which is disadvantageous in that it is diincult to adjust the table correctly and calf and popliteal thrombosis may be caused). It has therefore been proposed to use iliac-crest supports, but these have not found general acceptance because operation theatre technicians require experience tobe able to adjust them properly, the supports sometimes twist into incorrect positions, the padding tends to twist oii them after a little use, different sizes are required to fit correctly against iliac crests of different sizes. and they are of fixed height and may obstruct the surgeon.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved iliac-crest (pelvic) support for use in connection with a surgical operation table.

According to the invention a surgical operation table iliac-crest support comprises a rotatable roller-like element which is symmetrical about its axis of rotation and has a concave profile adapted to fit comfortably against a patients iliac crest. Preferably the roller-like element is mounted for free rotation upon a spindle which is laterally adjustable in position. In a particularly advantageous construction the roller-like element is freely movable axially so that it can assume or be placed at the height best suited to the patient. The roller-like element may be padded to prevent bruising the patient.

It will of course be understood that the supports are used in pairs; the roller-like elements are applied to the waist of the patient with the table horizontal, and as the table is tilted slipping of the patient brings the iliac crests into engagement with the profiled surfaces of the said elements, and the supports are thus largely selfadjusting and their application is very easily effected without particular skill or experience. The profile of the roller-like elements may be substantially anatomically correct, and the supports will then fit any normal iliac crest sufiiciently accurately. Being symmetrical and rotatable, the roller-like elements always present a suitable bearing surface for the iliac crest: and

.- operation table, the square portions being-"axially movable, the elements assurneithe appropriate heightwithout impeding the surgeon.

Inthe accompanying drawing an iliac crest (pelvic) supportacco'rding to the inventionis illustrated byway of example,

Figure 1' being a sectional side elevation-of the support,and

Figure 2 a perspective view-of thesupport.

Referring to the said drawing, the support comprises aspigot .Whichhas aportion Illnf square cross-section, a cylindrical portion I l, and a screw-threaded portion I2. An arm I3 has a slot I4 through which the screw-threaded portion 12 of the spigot passes freely, and on the portion 52 are a washer l5 and a hand-nut l6, and thus by rotation of the nut It the arm I3 can be clamped tightly between the washer l5 and the portion II, or released, as desired. A spindle I1 is screwed through a metal pad I8 and the arm IS; the pad l8 may be brazed or welded to the arm l3, and the spindle IT may also be additionally secured by brazing or welding. On the spindle I? is a freely-rotatable axially-movable roller-like element comprising a lower part [9, an upper part 20, a sponge rubber sleeve 23 for padding and a sleeve 24 of soft solid rubber. The parts 19 and 20 are formed separately so that they can be easily inserted from opposite ends into the sleeve 23, which fits tightly and is preferably bonded to the parts l9 and 20 after the latter have been screwed together. The sleeve 24 is bonded to the sleeve 23, of which the end surfaces are sealed in conventional manner. A spring clip 2| is secured in an annular groove in the spindle l1, and upward movement of the roller-like element is limited by an internal shoulder in the part 20 engaging this clip 2i. A cap 22 is provided to close the upper end of the bore of the roller-like element. As can be seen, the roller-like element is symmetrical about its axis of rotation and has a concave profile adapted to fit comfortably against a patients iliac crest.

The supports are used in pairs, in the following manner. With the patient on the horizontal H] are dropped into existing square sockets on the table as indicated in Figure 1, the arm l3 extending over the top of the operation table (not shown) and the spindle I! being substantially perpendicular to the top of the operation table; the nuts it are loosened, the roller-like elements are ap plied to the waist of the patient, and then the nuts :5 are tightened. As the table is tilted, the iliac crests come into appropriate contact with the roller-like elements.

Obviously modifications can be introduced into the construction without departing from the invention as claimed below.

I claim:

1. A surgical operation table iliac-crest support, comprising a roller-like element rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said element being symmetrical about its longitudinal axis and having a concave profile to fit an iliac crest, and attachment means for mounting said element on an operation table.

2. A support as defined in claim 1, said attachment means bein adjustable.

3. A support as defined in claim 1, said element being axially movable.

4. A support as defined in claim 1, said attachment means being adjustable and said element being axially movable.

5. A surgical operation table iliac-crest support comprising an arm, attachment means for mounting said arm on an operation table, a spindle secured to said arm, and a roller-like element rotatably mounted on said spindle, said element being symmetrical about its axis of rotation and having a concave profile to fit an iliac crest.

6. A support as defined in claim 5, said attachment means permitting adjustment of the location of said arm.

7. A support as defined in claim 5, said element being axially-movable on said spindle.

8. A support as defined in claim 5, said attachment means permittin adjustment of the location of said arm and said element being axially-movable on said spindle.

9. A surgical operation table iliac-crest support comprising an arm, means for clamping said arm in varying location on an operation table, a spindle secured to said arm, a rollerlike element freely rotatable and axially movable on said spindle, said element being symmetrical about its axis of rotation and having a concave profile to fit an iliac crest, and means limiting the axial movement of said element.

10. A support as defined in claim 9, said rollerlike element comprising a lower part and an upper part connected together, and a sleeve of resilient material fitting tightly to said lower part and upper part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 193,202 Wheeler July 17, 1877 289,910 Grunder Dec. 11, 1883 861,095 Dow July 23, 1907 1,165,975 Johnson Dec. 28, 1915 1,270,653 Otto June 25, 1918 1,853,442 Mann Apr. 12, 1932 2,334,606 Castigiia Nov. 16, 1943 2,535,559 Wolf Dec. 26, 1950 

